Terran Orbital Corporation has expanded its capabilities under NASA's Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition IV (Rapid IV) Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract by adding two additional space vehicle platforms. This positions Terran Orbital as a premier partner for NASA, offering a wider range of solutions for diverse missions. The Rapid IV awards have a shared potential ceiling of $6 billion amongst all contractors selected. Terran Orbital has added micro space vehicle platforms to the existing offerings of 6U and 12U CubeSats under the Rapid IV On-Ramp III contract. This comprehensive portfolio of flight-proven space vehicles simplifies the acquisition process for U.S. government agencies, allowing for faster space vehicle delivery and accelerating scientific discovery and national security advancements. Marc Bell, Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer at Terran Orbital, expressed honor in expanding their role in NASA's critical space endeavors [505550f9].
Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos, has secured a contract with NASA for the ESCAPADE mission, which aims to gather more information about Mars. The mission will be launched using Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket in 2024. The exact launch date is yet to be determined, but it is expected to take place in about a year. The ESCAPADE mission was awarded to Blue Origin under a Venture Class Launch contract, highlighting the company's growing role in the commercial space industry [7b175d3c].
The New Glenn rocket will deliver probes to Mars as part of the ESCAPADE mission. This will be the New Glenn's first flight, with additional launches planned for next year. The mission has a budget of $79 million and marks Blue Origin's first major government contract. The success of this mission could establish Blue Origin as a leading private space company for Mars missions [567b0ac5].
NASA's decision to choose Blue Origin over SpaceX for the ESCAPADE Mars mission comes after NASA pulled additional crafts from a Falcon Heavy rocket launch with SpaceX due to trajectory issues. Blue Origin's mission will involve satellites carrying instruments to measure magnetic fields, ions and electrons, and plasma density. The announcement of Blue Origin's selection for the Mars mission comes at a time when Elon Musk's SpaceX is facing setbacks, including the recent explosion of the Starship rocket during a launch attempt. The rivalry between Bezos and Musk in the space industry has implications for government-backed efforts and access to space through lower launch costs [a36a4ddd].
In addition to the ESCAPADE mission, recent NASA-funded research has provided new insights into organic molecules frozen in saltwater, which can help astrobiologists understand the habitability of Saturn's moon Enceladus. The research focused on the behavior of amino acids glycine and aspartic acid when rapidly frozen in saltwater. The results suggest that ice particles containing salts may contribute to the concentration of organic molecules, which can be useful in the search for signs of life [7b175d3c].
Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos's space company, has passed four key milestones in its $172 million contract with NASA to develop a space station called Orbital Reef. The milestones involved testing the regenerative system of the space station, which includes removing impurities from the air, recycling urine, and maintaining a water tank. The system is similar to the one on the International Space Station (ISS) that turns urine into drinking water. Blue Origin's space station, Orbital Reef, is a joint venture with Sierra Space and is intended to replace the ISS after its retirement. NASA is handing over the development of space stations to commercial companies to focus on other priorities, such as establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon and sending astronauts to Mars. The ISS is aging and experiencing various issues, and the Biden administration aims to keep it running until at least 2030 while transitioning to privately owned space stations. Ticket costs for Orbital Reef are not yet available [df65123f].
NASA is investing in potential replacements for the International Space Station (ISS), with one standout being Orbital Reef, a collaboration between Blue Origin and Sierra Space. Orbital Reef recently achieved significant milestones, including the development of a system to recycle urine into drinkable water for future astronauts and tourists. The ISS already employs a similar system, turning urine into clean water, which has been crucial for reducing the need to transport water from Earth, thus cutting costs. Blue Origin and Sierra Space received $172 million from NASA to develop commercial space stations in low-Earth orbit, offering spacious, comfortable modules with large windows for Earth observation and weightless experiences. The Biden administration aims to keep the ISS operational until at least 2030 while transitioning to privately owned space stations. Once retired, the ISS will be deliberately deorbited, burning up upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. Ticket costs for Orbital Reef remain undisclosed, but potentially comparable to the high prices of existing suborbital flights [209b0779].
MDA Space Ltd. has been awarded a $1 billion contract by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for the next phases of the Canadarm3 program. Canadarm3, the most advanced space robotics system, will be used aboard Gateway, a multinational collaboration led by NASA to establish a space station in lunar orbit. The contract includes funding for construction, system assembly, integration and test of the full robotics system. MDA Space will support commissioning of the Canadarm3 robotics system once in orbit. The contract is expected to run until March 2030 and involves more than 200 Canadian companies in the MDA Space supply chain. The CEO of MDA Space, Mike Greenley, stated that this investment in Canadarm3 reinforces and expands their national and industry leadership. The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, highlighted Canada's commitment to the next chapter of lunar exploration through this contract. The contract will contribute to job creation, skills development, and economic opportunities in the Canadian space industry [70d03e60].
TMC Technologies, based in Marion County, West Virginia, has been awarded a NASA Small Business Innovation Research Phase 1 contract. The contract is for the augmentation of its Small Satellite Digital Twin product to support active space-debris removal research using space-based lasers. TMC will collaborate with the West Virginia University Center for Innovation in Space Exploration and Research and the West Virginia Small Satellite Center to develop a simulation test bed for evaluating and analyzing space-based laser techniques for active space debris remediation and removal. TMC's technology, the Small Satellite Digital Twin, is a high-fidelity virtual representation of a real-world physical satellite and is used for satellite software prototyping, experimentation, and testing. The company's FLEXSAT product is a hardware version of the Small Satellite Digital Twin for advanced prototyping. The grant from NASA will enable TMC to expand the capabilities of its Small Satellite Digital Twin product to address the space debris problem and its threat to national security. The project is part of a larger collaborative effort led by Dr. Hang Woon Lee of West Virginia University to advance active debris removal research. The simulation software developed by TMC will serve as a high-fidelity digital twin environment for verifying the effectiveness of space-based laser systems in orbital debris remediation. The project is managed by Dr. David Martinelli of the West Virginia Small Satellite Center. [e7a11f83]